Application Of Entomology Research Articles

Development ofFannia pusio(Diptera: Fanniidae) Under Controlled Temperature Conditions and its Enforcement in the Estimate of the Post-mortem Interval (PMI)

Fannia pusio(Wiedemann, 1830) is a species belonging to the family Fanniidae, which is of great forensic, sanitary, and veterinary interest. The behavioral peculiarities of this species, depending on the temperature at which it is found, may provide additional information for future research. The application of entomology in the forensic field has focused especially on the early colonizing taxa of corpses that are in the initial stage of decomposition. However, species occurring at more advanced stages can contribute to further knowledge, as is the case withF. pusio. In addition, the species has the ability to colonize buried corpses that are inaccessible to larger dipterans. On the other hand, the sanitary and veterinary interest of this species is due to the performance of females as phoretic hosts ofDermatobia hominiseggs that cause myiasis in both animals and humans. In the current study, the behavior ofF. pusiowas observed at a temperature range of 5°C to 40°C. We found that its viability range is limited between 15°C and 35°C; above and below these temperatures, adults survive but oviposition does not take place. Data collected by statistical analysis were subsequently applied to calculate the post-mortem interval (PMI) using isomorphen and isomegalen diagrams. The results show a directly proportional relationship between growth rate and temperature increase. However, a slowdown in the growth of individuals was observed at extreme temperatures (5°C and 35°C). The results shown in this manuscript, together with the existing bibliography of other species, help to broaden the knowledge ofF. pusio, which has not been studied in such depth until now.

Mid-infrared spectroscopy for entomological purposes: A review

• MIRS is widely used for studying the chemical composition in food matrices. • However, it has found few applications in entomology to date. • Major applications include profiling cuticular hydrocarbons and in metabolomics. • Others are ID of cryptic species, detecting Wolbachia , sexing, and measuring age. • Characterisation of surface chemistry may assist in form-function studies. Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) is a well-established technique in the field of chemical analysis. Although it has been applied to problems in the entomological field for over 65 years, MIRS typically remains underutilised in this discipline. Potential applications of MIRS include profiling of cuticular hydrocarbons, taxonomic discrimination between cryptic species, sex discrimination, age prediction, detection of endosymbionts such as Wolbachia , and characterisation of the surface chemistry of insect body parts and products. The number of potential applications is expected to continue rising rapidly as MIR technology advances and it is adopted by more members of the entomological community.

Food selection of maize weevil <i>Sitophilus Zeamais</i> (motschulsky)

The instintive behaviour exhibited by insects in the selecting food is always a matter of interests to entomologists, and it is one of the fundamental principles underlining the application of entomology to agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Food seclection is an important characteristic of insects that help them survive in periods with insufficient foods.Three grain types of food, maize grain, long-grain rice and soybean grain, were used in this sudy for detecting food selection behaviours of maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. Grains were kept in box traps put in the different stores in Son La during 90 days. The result showed that maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, prefered traps with maize grains (71.4%) considerably more than ones with long-grain rice (14.3%) and soybean grain (14.3%). Meanwhile, the cornsap beetle, Carpophilus dimidiatus, was mostly observed in maize grain (98.5%) and to a lesser degree, in soybean grain (1.5%); and the dried-fruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus, was abundantly observed in maize grain (93.1%) and less in soybean grain (6.9%). The red flour, Tribolium castaneum, also tended to select all the three food grain, i.e. maize grain: 53.5%, long-rice grain: 35.2%, and soybean grain: 11.3%.Comparing f beetle individuals captured on three types of food grains showed that the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is the most abundant species. The percentage this store beetle among all beetles observed in maize, soybean grains and long-rice grains were 57.0%, 84.9% and 27.6%, respectively. Interestingly, Ahasverus advena, foreign grain beetle, occurred abundantly on long-rice gain (61.7%), i.e. this grain is a suitable food for the development of this beetle.

Technical note: A rapid, non-invasive method for measuring live or preserved insect specimens using digital image analysis

The measurement of insects is an important component of many entomological applications, including forensic evidence, where larvae size is used as a proxy for developmental stage, and hence time since colonization/death. Current methods for measuring insects are confounded by varying preservation techniques, biased and non-standardized measurements, and often a lack of sample size given practical constraints. Towards enhanced accuracy and precision in measuring live insects to help avoid these variables, and that allows for different measurements to be analyzed, we developed a non-invasive, digital method using widely available free analytical software to measure live blow fly larvae. Using crime scene photographic equipment currently standard in investigation protocols, we measured the live length of 282 Phormia regina larvae. Repeated measurements of maggots, for all instars, were performed for several orientations and images. Most accurate measurements were obtained when maggots were oriented in their natural full extension. Killed specimens resulted in greater length measurements (Mean 1.79 ± 1.11 mm) when compared to live length. Herein, we report a technically simple, fast, and accurate measurement technique adapted for field and lab-based measurements, as well as, a simple linear equation for conversion of live length to standard killed length measurements. We propose this method be utilized for the standardization of forensic entomological evidence collection and development model creation.

Structural characterization of Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1 exopolysaccharide-antimicrobial potential and larvicidal activity on malaria and Zika virus mosquito vectors.

Microbial polysaccharides produced by marine species play a key role in food and cosmetic industry, as they are nontoxic and biodegradable polymers. This investigation reports the isolation of exopolysaccharide from Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1 and its biomedical applications. Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1exopolysaccharide (Bl-EPS) was extracted using the ethanol precipitation method and structurally characterized. FTIR and 1H-NMR pointed out the presence of various functional groups and primary aromatic compounds, respectively. Bl-EPS exhibited strong antioxidant potential confirmed via DPPH radical, reducing power and superoxide anion scavenging assays. Microscopic analysis revealed that the antibiofilm activity of Bl-EPS (75μg/ml) was higher against Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris) bacteria over Gram-positive species (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus). Bl-EPS led to biofilm inhibition against Candida albicans when tested at 75μg/ml. The hemolytic assay showed low cytotoxicity of Bl-EPS at 5mg/ml. Besides, Bl-EPS achieved LC50 values < 80μg/ml against larvae of mosquito vectors Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti. Overall, our findings pointed out the multipurpose bioactivity of Bl-EPS, which deserves further consideration for pharmaceutical, environmental and entomological applications.

Bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS)-coated ZnO nanoparticles showed high antibiofilm activity and larvicidal toxicity against malaria and Zika virus vectors

In this study, a novel and effective approach was performed to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the exopolysaccharides (EPS) from the probiotic strain Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1. EPS acted as reducing and stabilizing agent for the formation of EPS-ZnO NPs by co-precipitation method. Structural characterization was investigated by a surface plasma resonance centered at 375nm in UV–vis spectrum. FTIR spectrum exhibited functional groups with strong absorption peak at 3814.7–420cm−1. XRD showed the crystalline nature of EPS-ZnO NPs. TEM showed that the EPS-ZnO NPs were hexagonal in shape, with size within the range of 10–100nm. The presence of Zn was confirmed by EDX analysis. Antibacterial activity of EPS-ZnO NPs was demonstrated as 100μg/ml significantly inhibited the effective growth control of Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus) bacteria. Light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy evidenced that the antibiofilm activity of EPS-ZnO NPs was higher against Gram-negative bacteria over Gram positive bacteria. EPS-ZnO NPs also inhibited the biofilm growth of Candida albicans at the concentration of 75μg/ml. The hemolytic test showed low cytotoxicity of EPS-ZnO NPs at 5mg/ml. In addition, EPS-ZnO NPs achieved 100% mortality against third instars mosquito larvae of Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti at very low doses. Moreover, histology studies revealed the presence of damaged cells and tissues in the mid-gut of treated mosquito larvae. The multipurpose properties of EPS-ZnO NPs revealed in the present study can be further considered for pharmaceutical, parasitological and entomological applications.

Analysis of human DNA present in the digestive tract of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for possible forensic application

Forensic Entomogenetics deals with the application of entomology allied to molecular biology techniques, being a tool for obtaining evidence that can assist in the solution of crimes. An application of forensic entomogenetics is the identification of the genetic profile of an individual by DNA analysis of the digestive tract of a mosquito that has stung it and can be used in cases of kidnapping and captivity. The main objective of this work was to expose a group of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes to the human blood (donor) and to observe if after 24h it is possible to detect traces of the human DNA that serves to identify the individual. For this, a group of 20 specimens was separated at two times, 1h and 24h after the blood supply, for DNA extraction using the QiAmp DNA Investigator kit (Qiagen). Human DNA concentration analysis was determined by Nanodrop 2000/2000c spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific), and the PCR amplification of this human mitochondrial marker material was positive. The feasibility of the tested process for obtaining DNA and human-specific marker amplification from mosquitoes hás been confirmed and it is hoped to contribute to research actions within the forensic sciences.

Is PMI the Hypothesis or the Null Hypothesis?

Over the past several decades, there have been several strident exchanges regarding whether forensic entomologists estimate the postmortem interval (PMI), minimum PMI, or something else. During that time, there has been a proliferation of terminology reflecting this concern regarding "what we do." This has been a frustrating conversation for some in the community because much of this debate appears to be centered on what assumptions are acknowledged directly and which are embedded within a list of assumptions (or ignored altogether) in the literature and in case reports. An additional component of the conversation centers on a concern that moving away from the use of certain terminology like PMI acknowledges limitations and problems that would make the application of entomology appear less useful in court-a problem for lawyers, but one that should not be problematic for scientists in the forensic entomology community, as uncertainty is part of science that should and can be presented effectively in the courtroom (e.g., population genetic concepts in forensics). Unfortunately, a consequence of the way this conversation is conducted is that even as all involved in the debate acknowledge the concerns of their colleagues, parties continue to talk past one another advocating their preferred terminology. Progress will not be made until the community recognizes that all of the terms under consideration take the form of null hypothesis statements and that thinking about "what we do" as a null hypothesis has useful legal and scientific ramifications that transcend arguments over the usage of preferred terminology.

Insects and associated arthropods analyzed during medicolegal death investigations in Harris County, Texas, USA: January 2013- April 2016.

The application of insect and arthropod information to medicolegal death investigations is one of the more exacting applications of entomology. Historically limited to homicide investigations, the integration of full time forensic entomology services to the medical examiner’s office in Harris County has opened up the opportunity to apply entomology to a wide variety of manner of death classifications and types of scenes to make observations on a number of different geographical and species-level trends in Harris County, Texas, USA. In this study, a retrospective analysis was made of 203 forensic entomology cases analyzed during the course of medicolegal death investigations performed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, TX, USA from January 2013 through April 2016. These cases included all manner of death classifications, stages of decomposition and a variety of different scene types that were classified into decedents transported from the hospital (typically associated with myiasis or sting allergy; 3.0%), outdoor scenes (32.0%) or indoor scenes (65.0%). Ambient scene air temperature at the time scene investigation was the only significantly different factor observed between indoor and outdoor scenes with average indoor scene temperature being slightly cooler (25.2°C) than that observed outdoors (28.0°C). Relative humidity was not found to be significantly different between scene types. Most of the indoor scenes were classified as natural (43.3%) whereas most of the outdoor scenes were classified as homicides (12.3%). All other manner of death classifications came from both indoor and outdoor scenes. Several species were found to be significantly associated with indoor scenes as indicated by a binomial test, including Blaesoxipha plinthopyga (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), all Sarcophagidae (including B. plinthopyga), Megaselia scalaris Loew (Diptera: Phoridae), Synthesiomyia nudiseta Wulp (Diptera: Muscidae) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The only species that was a significant indicator of an outdoor scene was Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). All other insect species that were collected in five or more cases were collected from both indoor and outdoor scenes. A species list with month of collection and basic scene characteristics with the length of the estimated time of colonization is also presented. The data presented here provide valuable casework related species data for Harris County, TX and nearby areas on the Gulf Coast that can be used to compare to other climate regions with other species assemblages and to assist in identifying new species introductions to the area. This study also highlights the importance of potential sources of uncertainty in preparation and interpretation of forensic entomology reports from different scene types.

Time series motif discovery: dimensions and applications

Time series motifs are repeated segments in a long time series that, if exist, carry precise information about the underlying source of the time series. Motif discovery in time series data has received significant attention in the data mining community since its inception, principally because, motif discovery is meaningful and more likely to succeed when the data is large.Algorithms for motif discovery generally deal with three aspects the definition of the motifs, domain based preprocessing, and finally, the algorithmic steps. Typical definitions of motifs signify the similarity or the support of the motifs. Domains impose preprocessing requirements to meaningful motif finding such as data alignment, interpolation, and transformation. Motif discovery algorithms vary based on exact or approximate evaluation of the definition. In addition, algorithms require different representations [Symbolic Aggregate approXimation (SAX), DFT etc.] and similarity measures [correlation, dynamic time warping (DTW) distance etc.] for time series segments. In this paper, we discuss these three facets in detail with examples taken from the literature.We briefly describe a set of applications of time series motif in various domains and elaborate on a certain application in entomology to analyze insect behavior.This article is categorized under: Algorithmic Development &gt; Spatial and Temporal Data Mining Technologies &gt; Structure Discovery and Clustering

Transcriptome analysis of Anopheles stephensi embryo using expressed sequence tags

Germ band retraction (GBR) stage is one of the important stages during insect development. It is associated with an extensive epithelial morphogenesis and may also be pivotal in generation of morphological diversity in insects. Despite its importance, only a handful of studies report the transcriptome repertoire of this stage in insects. Here, we report generation, annotation and analysis of ESTs from the embryonic stage (16-22 h post fertilization) of laboratoryreared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. A total of 1002 contigs were obtained upon clustering of 1140 high-quality ESTs, which demonstrates an astonishingly low transcript redundancy (12.1 percent). Putative functions were assigned only to 213 contigs (21 percent), comprising mainly of transcripts encoding protein synthesis machinery. Approximately 78 percent of the transcripts remain uncharacterized, illustrating a lack of sequence information about the genes expressed in the embryonic stages of mosquitoes. This study highlights several novel transcripts, which apart from insect development, may significantly contribute to the essential biological complexity underlying insect viability in adverse environments. Nonetheless, the generated sequence information from this work provides a comprehensive resource for genome annotation, microarray development, phylogenetic analysis and other molecular biology applications in entomology.

Chill sensitivity and cryopreservation of eggs of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

There is an increasing need for methods of cryopreservation of arthropods. In particular, Lepidoptera are extremely important in entomological applications for the protection of agricultural crops and forest ecosystems and also in many aspects of biodiversity conservation. Yet, few studies have dealt with cryopreservation techniques in species of this insect order. The aim of this study was to examine the chill sensitivity of eggs of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (L.) and the possibility to cryopreserve the eggs by vitrification methods. One day-old eggs were dechorionated with water solutions of 1.25% sodium hypochlorite and 0.04% Tween 80, treated with cryoprotective agents in two steps, subjected to rapid cooling by immersion in LN and stored in a mechanical freezer for 48 h at −140 °C. They exhibited survival rates of 1.6 ± 0.5% after being cooled in LN and 0.6 ± 0.2% after being stored in the mechanical freezer. 92.9% of the larvae that hatched from cryopreserved eggs completed development regularly, producing adults that bred and laid fertile eggs. The hatching rate of eggs in the F1 and F2 generations was higher than 90%. Adult emergences of the progeny of eggs stored at ultra-low temperatures allowed us to establish a laboratory colony.

Insect Molecular Genetics (2nd Edition)

Insect Molecular Genetics (2nd Edition)

Review of: Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations

Abstract Insects and related arthropods are the most abundant organisms on the planet Earth and found in almost all conceivable habitats, including those associated with human inhabitation. These animals are intimately involved as major players in sustaining ecological functions and ecosystem processes. Accordingly, these arthropods are often found associated with human activities, including homicide, as we encounter them in our daily lives. Forensic entomology is the application of entomological evidence to resolving litigation (civil cases) and solving crimes, most often those of violence and death (medicocriminal cases). This book, Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations, focuses on the criminological application of entomology and provides a smorgasbord of medicocriminal entomology and associated practices prepared by leading practicing scientists in this and related disciplines. This is the first comprehensive treatise of medicolegal entomology to bring together archival and new information for forensic practitioners since publication of Smith's A Manual of Forensic Entomology (1986).

Computerised video tracking, movement analysis and behaviour recognition in insects

The need for automating behavioural observations and the evolution of systems developed for that purpose are outlined. Automatic video tracking systems enable behaviour to be studied in a reliable and consistent way, and over longer time periods than if it is manually recorded. To overcome limitations of currently available systems and to meet researchers' needs as these have been identified, we have developed an integrated system (EthoVision) for automatic recording of activity, movement and interactions of insects. The system is described here, with special emphasis on file management, experiment design, arena and zone definition, object detection, experiment control, visualisation of tracks and calculation of analysis parameters. A review of studies using our system is presented, to demonstrate its use in a variety of entomological applications. This includes research on beetles, fruit flies, soil insects, parasitic wasps, predatory mites, ticks, and spiders. Finally, possible future directions for development are discussed.

The concept of biological time for computing the switching points of a growth model for winter wheat

This paper deals with the prediction of the time points at which stem elongation and ear emergence of winter wheat are reached. The problem is analogous to that of predicting insect development stages. In entomological applications usually a temperature response function is used to calculate the development rate. Summation or integration of this development rate yields the biological time, which is a measure of the development state of the individuals. In this paper the same concept is applied to plant phenology. First the general form of a plant model is discussed. The need to predict the starting time of certain growth stages is stressed. Afterwards, several methods of determining these time points are discussed, especially with respect to the predictive power. A comparison of the chosen non-linear approach with a linear temperature response shows the former to be superior. Based on these results a prediction of two growth stages of winter wheat was made.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA of mosquito species and populations (Diptera: Culicidae): techniques, statistical analysis, and applications.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method is described for the identification and differentiation of mosquito species and populations. The method, described first by Williams et al. (1990), employs single 10 base-long primers of arbitrary DNA sequence and results in the amplification of random segments of DNA known as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). We wished to determine if RAPD of mosquito DNA could be used for the differentiation of species and populations, identification of unknown specimens, and the reconstruction of phylogeny. RAPD of mosquito DNA results in the amplification of a series of DNA fragments of varying length. Most amplified fragments are unique to an individual; however, our data indicated that in each of the five species of Aedes examined, some fragments are species-specific and are present in all individuals of that species. This enabled us to derive a diagnostic profile for each of the five species. A nearest-neighbor analysis of all the amplified DNA fragments discriminated among species on a multivariate basis. Several individuals of Aedes albopictus (Skuse), included in the analysis as "unknowns," were correctly identified as belonging to Ae. albopictus. UPGMA clustering of presence-absence data enabled the separation of different Aedes species as well as different populations of Ae. albopictus. The entomological applications of RAPD include the construction of diagnostic profiles for species identification and differentiation among conspecific populations.

A Computer Programme Package for the Statistical Analysis of Spatial Point Processes in a Square

A computer programme for the statistical analysis of point data in a square is described. Several tests for randomness of the distribution of points are possible. The most comprehensive of these are comparisons of the empirical distributions of the inter-point and closest neighbour distances with their respective expected distributions under complete randomness, and tests based on Ripley' L function; using these, significant aggregation or regularity can be identified. It is also possible to calculate statistics of properties (“attributes”) associated with each spatial point, as well as to compare statistics for sub-areas of the experimental square. Several measures of spatial autocorrelation are available, amongst them correlograms and variograms. The programme can also find the tesselation of the study area and correlate tile properties with the point attributes. The procedures are illustrated by references to the spatial distribution and mound heights of Trinevitermes trinervoides on a study area in South Africa. Although the programme was developed specifically for application in entomology, it could be used to analyse data from many other disciplines.

A Review of A Manual of Forensic Entomology

Abstract Since the late 1800s the application of forensic entomology to the determination of “time since death” has been sporadically used in Europe, and to a greater degree in the United States, with ever increasing success. Most of the previously published texts on forensic medicine and death investigation have provided little if any practical information on the use and practice of forensic entomology, as much of the research and case studies concerning this subject have been primarily published in entomological journals. The publication of this book can be considered as a significant contribution to the forensic science community, as it is the first text in English to deal exclusively with the application of entomology to the forensic sciences.

The application of entomology to forensic medicine.

The application of entomology to forensic medicine.